WAPELLO
Local Schools
THE SOURCE 2024 • 7
WAPELLO
Ottumwa Community School District
Superintendent
Michael McGrory 641-684-6597 michael . mcgrory @ ottumwaschools . com
The Ottumwa Community School District ’ s mission is to “ Be the Best ,” whether that is for its families , students or staff . Home of the Bulldogs , the district has strengthened its partnerships with other local entities to give its students real-world opportunities before graduating . In 2022 , the district approved a reshuffling of its south side buildings and high school , decreasing the number of students in those buildings while enhancing the educational experience ; that process was completed at the start of the
2024-25 school year . The school district also opened its Gateway Learning Center in 2022 . In 2023 , Ottumwa High School celebrated its 100th anniversary and announced that a new , stateof-the art competition gym would be connected by skywalk to the high school , with construction to begin this year . In the spring of 2024 , the school district opened Fahrney Elementary School , a building that holds students in grades 3-5 and is an attachment to Douma Elementary School .
2024 Certified Enrollment : 5,113 ( K-12 ) — 50.9 % White — 25.5 % Hispanic — 10.6 % Hawaiian / Pacific Islander — 7.8 % Black / African American — 3.1 % Asian
— 1.7 % Multiracial
Buildings
Ottumwa High School | 641-683-4444 Gateway High School | 641-683-1342 Evans Junior High | 641-684-6511 Douma Elementary | 641-684-4668 Eisenhower Elementary | 641-684-5617 Fahrney Elementary | 641-684-6753 Horace Mann Elementary | 641-684-4661 James Elementary | 641-684-6597 Liberty Intermediate | 641-682-4502 Wilson Elementary | 641-684-5441 Pickwick Early Childhood Center | 641-684-7179 Career Campus | 641-684-6512
Non-Public Schools
Ottumwa Christian School | 641-683-9119 Seton Catholic School | 641-682-8826
Cardinal Community School District
Superintendent
James Craig 641-652-7531 james . craig @ cardinalcomet . com
The Cardinal Community School District in Eldon is dedicated to providing a safe and supportive environment for all children . The district is one of the fastest-growing in Iowa , having grown by over 50 % in the last decade because of open enrollment , one of
the largest increases in the state . The school district offers Chromebook computers to all students in grades 6-12 as part of its 1-to-1 initiative . Faculty , staff and administration in the district foster communities of lifelong learners , and strive to be guided by learning research in giving every child an opportunity to succeed in a safe , nurturing environment . The district has been named at Top Workplace by the Des Moines Register six consecutive years .
2024 Certified Enrollment : 975 ( PK-12 ) — 88.9 % White — 6.9 % Hispanic — 3.1 % Multi-Racial — 0.6 % Black / African American — 0.4 % Hawaiian / Pacific Islander — 0.1 % Asian
Buildings
Cardinal High School / Middle School | 641-652- 7531 Cardinal Elementary | 641-652-3591
Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District
Superintendent
Scott Williamson 641-969-4226 scott . williamson @ rocketsk12 . org
The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District has a rich history when it comes to academic , co-curricular and extra-curricular activities , and is known for the level of dedication the staff works with students and families , which is the backbone to a surge in academic achievement . The district believes in three core principles — having a growth mindset over a fixed mindset , having highly effective characteristics of teaching that create a successful learning environment , and actively engaging students to discuss what they are learning and why they are learning it .
2024 Certified Enrollment : 928 ( PK-12 ) — 94.0 % White — 3.7 % Hispanic — 1.8 % Multi-Racial — 0.4 % Black / African American — 0.1 % Asian
Buildings
EBF Junior / Senior High | 641-969-4288 Blakesburg Elementary | 641-938-2202 Eddyville Elementary | 641-969-4281 Fremont Elementary | 641-933-4211